Tuberculosis (TB) remains the deadliest infectious disease globally, claiming over 3,400 lives daily and resulting in 1.3 million deaths in 2023, with a record 8.2 million new diagnoses reported.

In the United States, TB cases are rising by approximately 7% annually, a stark contrast to the perception that the disease has been eradicated, largely due to public health cuts and the AIDS epidemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted TB control efforts, leading to a resurgence in high-burden regions and complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Stigma surrounding TB, often viewed as a disease of poverty, complicates prevention and treatment efforts, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Funding for TB control and research is critically lacking, exacerbated by cuts to public health budgets, which could lead to increased infections and deaths.

Experts emphasize the urgent need for improved diagnostics, treatment strategies, and a viable vaccine to combat TB and prevent its spread.

Collaboration among various scientific disciplines is essential to advance understanding and treatment of TB, with ongoing research focusing on how TB survives and evades the immune response.

The Mycobacteria-focused Program for Research and Innovation in Science and Medicine (MycoPRISM) at Washington University aims to enhance research on TB and develop new treatments.

The resurgence of TB in the U.S. is linked to historical public health cuts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a general lack of awareness regarding the disease's dangers.

TB is challenging to treat due to its ability to evade the immune system and the long treatment duration, which often leads to drug resistance.

Recent advances in TB diagnostics include the use of nanoparticles for rapid detection and the exploration of AI-driven solutions to improve accuracy.

Pregnancy poses unique challenges for TB management, as hormonal changes can suppress maternal immunity and increase susceptibility to infections.